Give us a brief history of the band.
Alex: We started in 2006 and since then we put out
our full length in 2010. This year we put out a record
called This Is War which was released in March. We
toured with Sleeping With Sirens in spring when the
record came out and now were out on tour with these
guys [You Me at Six].
What wass the origin of the name?
Alex: It comes from a quote from a composer “the
essential conditions of everything you do must be
choice, love, and passion”, so we pulled Conditions
out of that.
What has music taught you?
Brandon: It’s taught me that I really hate it. It really
has, I can’t stand it. I’m kidding! It’s taught me a lot. In
my point of view it’s the power of music from people
saying we change their lives.

Alex: It’s really cool that you come out with all these
new friends after tour and keep up with them regardless
if we play with them or not.
If you could change one thing about the music industry
what would it be?

For example last night this guy came up to me and said
our music helped him through his cancer treatment. I
was absolutely floored by that. I’ve learned the power of
it and how I shouldn’t take that for granted.
SOS: In a world where music did not exist what would
you be doing?
Brandon: Well I’d be happy for one. I mean I can't go
back from all the time I’ve wasted in this band, but I
don’t know how far I’d be in other worlds.
Alex: I was going to school for advertising, so maybe
something along those lines.

Brandon: Maybe if there was one still. I mean if I could
change one thing about the music industry it would try
to make it harder for people become their favorite band.
New bands that are starting out try not to be their
favorite band, but they end up becoming their favorite
band. It is so fucking annoying. All of these dumbass
kids are playing music because their parents told them
all of their lives that they are special and they can do it
and they just fucking cloud up everything. So annoying,
pardon my French. I know I sound like an asshole right
now, and I don’t mean it that way. We’re very nice
people, but that side of the music industry is so fucked.
Alex: I would change the algorithm that prevents music
from being copied so easily. People just start up without
knowing what they are doing.

Brandon: I mean when I was in school I was a straight A Brandon: They think they’ll just start a band and do it for
student and a varsity soccer player, I was playing in the fame, fortune, and girls, just stupid reasons. Start a
college and figured out what I wanted to do. I’m happy band because you want to say something and get my
now.
therapy.
-----SOS: What have been some of your favorite tours?
Conditions is currently in the process of planning their
Brandon: This [tour with You, Me At Six] is one of them.
farewell tour run later this year.
This has been one of the most stress free tours we have
been on. Other then that Sound Wave was incredible,
but there were so many rock stars there and then there
was us.

Hydra Melody

HYDRA MELODY
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

How when and where did you Jason: For me it's oddly enough
guys meet?
Third Eye Blind, they were the
first band I listened to and I grew
Jordan: We me about four years up listening to them and they're
ago when we were both in probably my biggest influence
different local bands back home contemporary music wise.
and really respected each Listening to them an old school
otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music and when things 60s and 70s stuff my father
went south we formed together. brought me up on like Elton John
and Billy Joel also influences the
Have you guys always been stuff I do.
Hydra Melody?
Jordan: Yeah I'm kind of in the
Jordan: We've been Hydra same boat I love a lot of the
Melody for about 8 years and classics like the Beetles and
have recently been pushing and Zeppelin I grew up listening to
getting serious over the last two them, but I really liked I a lot of
to three years.
underground music growing up
like RX Bandits, Circa Survive,
How did you guys come up with Minus the Bear.
the name?
Most personal song?
Jordan: A long time ago when we
first started our music was really Jordan: For me [it's] Fire
really crazy and solos on top of breather it's one of the first
solos and the name was really songs that Jason and I really
fitting back then and Hydra wrote together. I felt it was the
Melody just kind of stuck and first point for us as a writing
started catching on as the music partnership and I could really feel
started changing and we figured that growth in the song and
why change the name when we whether or not the lyrics are
already made head way with it. really personal and I feel like that
for me is really one of those
What bands have inspired you to songs is like the first step for
make the music you make where we're at right now.
today?
Jason: For me it's this song we

started writing that is tentatively
named "Ways to Go" and Jordan
wrote these lyrics that are really
apropo to what we're going
through right now of being on the
road trying to get where we want
to be with our career and our
musicandrightnowit'sallveryin
the moment and the lyrics are all
about what we're doing right
now so that one is a big one for
me.
Favorite song to play live?
Jordan: We have a fan favorite
back home called "You're What I
Do on the Weekends" and that
one I feel is the most fun to play
live because it's really energetic
and really catchy and we're able
to get a lot of audience
participation.Sothatoneisreally
fun to play live because it gives
us a real chance t interact with
the crowd.
Jason: For me it would probably
have to be "Oceans" because
when we are all vibing on stage
and we become that unit and that
song comes out the way it
shoulditisoneofthepeaksofour
show.

Jason Harari - bass/vocals

Jordan Berlanga - Vocals/Guitar/Keys

What is next for Hydra Melody music-wise?
Jason: We took off to Austin for six weeks to write a
full length record and we are shooting to put out a full
length and won't settle for anything less right now. If
we have 15 songs right now we want to have 30 and
really narrow them down to the ones we enjoy the
most, the ones we feel are the most fitting to where
we are right now -Jordan: The most unique
Jason: Yeah, and the most Hydra Melody [What we
are]. Which I think is something we are starting to
nail. [Our next release] will be a full length for sure!

Hydra Melody

Photos and interview by: Nicole Stephens

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CLICKgravida
TO WATCHest,
THE INTERVIEW
sagittis
sit amet
sold out shows every night supporting a band as amazing as
Third Eye Blind, it came time to put everything on hold and really
grasp that moment.
Where do you see hydra melody in two years?
Jason: Headlining our own tour -Jordan: Yeah thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where I see [the band]. I feel like this is that
first step, in the next set of steps in our career.
If you could go back in time what would you tell your younger
self?
Do you have any song or album titles in mind right now?
Jordan: No. We have demos that we recorded when we were
writing and we don't have titles for them yet. We were trying to
get into the studio in November but this tour with Third Eye Blind
snuck up on us and the record got put on the back burner.
Hopefully early 2014 it will be out.
What has music taught you?

Jordan:Iwouldtellmyself:"Poppunkisnotthatgreat,moveon,
and look into something better! [laughs]
Jason: I would tell myself "Stick with it" and "Not to give up"
because it's really starting to happen for us now in a really cool
way.
If you could change anything about the music industry what
would it be?

Jason: A lot of patience. It's taught me to be a much more
patient person. one of the things you learn [as a touring Jason: I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change anything about how successful the
musician] is how to share a dream with a group of people and internet has made everything, but I would change the fact that
how to understand how everybody fits into that, how to work in people in the industry having to work twice as hard to make
a way that everyone can get what they want out of it. Basically money in an industry that's dying. I think there is a fair chance
understanding how to get what you want out of it, but also for everyone, but I would make it that artists that are struggling
knowing it's not worth the journey if you're not doing it together.
have better opportunities.
Jordan: I feel that music has let me be more myself by writing Jordan: I would have to agree. I feel like as successful as the
lyrics and trying to connect with people you, you can't fake internet has been for music, it has also made it ten times as
something like that.
easier to download music for free and I feel like little has been
done to figure out how to have [the chance for a big break] more
What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
open to [struggling artists].
----Jason: Touring with third eye blind.
HYDRA MELODY is currently in the studio writing their first full
Jordan: Yeah I think that's pretty unanimous. All the records all length.
the shows lead up to that big moment and I think for us we're
riding that wave and we're on that big moment right now.
Jason: we just wanted to share our music with as many people
as possible and when we got that opportunity to start playing

8 Magazine/April, 2013

DEFEATER
Magazine/April, 2013

9

DEFEATER
BOSTON, MASS.

How and when did you guys focus is off and it sort of makes What was the writing process
form?
everything harder.
like for Letters Home? Is it easier
to write within a concept or
Derek: We formed in 2008. I met Artists that inspire you to make harder?
Mike and Joe at Joe's studio and the music you make today?
I was there recording with my
Derek: There's an idea with the
friends band and then a couple Joe: Bowie!
whole story arc that I'll write
months later Mike moved to
aboutontour,butsometimesthe
Hawaii and they had a record Mike: There's like five bands we best stuff comes when I'm out
written. We ended up deciding to all have as like the common and will walk into a store or
use the instrumentation for a thread, but everyone listens to something and come up with
new band and came up with the different genres.
something that is worthwhile. I
name Defeater. Mike came back
have to write lyrics to music that
from Hawaii and started playing Derek: Yeah, but there are a lot of is the one thing, I definitely need
bass.
Staples we can agree upon like the end product in order to write.
Minor Threat, Black Flag, Kid It was so much easier writing to
When you guys first started out Dynamite,
Buried
Alive, how Joe plays on this record
in different local bands what was Metallica.
than our previous record.
your biggest struggle?
Joe: Metallica is the reason I Favorite song out of your entire
Joe: Transportation, generally started playing drums, I wanted discography?
sucking at your instruments, to play like Lars (Ulrich) [laughs]
and basically everything that
Joe: "Rabbit Foot" Live. That I've
comes along with trying to play What has been your biggest written would be "Empty Glass"
live music.
accomplishment to date as a
Derek: Finding a place to musician?
Mike: "No Savior"
practice, not annoying your
parents.
Joe: I would say probably for all Derek: Live "Wound and Scar" I
of us it's "Letters Home" the miss playing that. That I've
Mike: Everything was kind of a record we just put out. It's the written would have to be
pain in the ass at the point. I think first record we've really written "Brothers"
one thing, not particularly with together as a band and put out as
Defeater, but with starting bands a band.
in general and being younger,
you think so much rides on Derek: We did a lot of revising
getting on one huge show. I feel and I think it's our best effort yet.
like with that mentality your

Joe Longobardi

Mike Poulin

Derek Archambault

Photos and interview by: Nicole Stephens

In a world where music didn't when you tour all that time and
exist what would you be doing?they all suck, but getting to tour
and meet new people is it.
Derek: Joe would probably be
in gay porn.
Joe: It's really a ridiculous life
thatwelive.Wedrivealloverthe
Joe: Yeah, straight up! -- No. place sell a bunch of t shirts, sit
Not at all. I really don't know around, meet new friends, go
what to say after that. We have places,andthenweplayforhalf
peaked at that answer.
anhourtoanhoureveryday.It's
insane and the greatest thing at
Derek: I don't know I always the same time.
wanted to be a teacher. You get
the summers off, every two Where do you see Defeater in
monthsyougetapaidvacation, five years?
and just ridiculing kids for being
stupid.
Joe: RadioShack or probably
playing for Miley Cyrus.
Mike: I don't know what I'd be
doing and I honestly think about Derek: Playing for someone
that every day because at some somewhere...
point you have to do something
else, but I really have no idea. Joe: Honestly we're going to be
done in five years, I can't see
What inspires you to keep [Defeater being a band in five
doing what you're doing?
years]
happening
unfortunately.
Mike: It's honestly a no brainer.
There are obvious sacrifices Mike: We're still going to hang

out and we're still going to be
friends...--Not that I see the
band ever breaking up, but
there's no light at the end of the
tunnel and there's no exit plan.
Joe: One day one of us is going
towakeupandbelike"Ican'tdo
this anymore, I'm out." and the
band is going to be done.
-----

Defeater just wrapped up a
headlining tour in Europe.
"Letters Home" is out now!